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| July 24, 2008 | Thursday | Rajab 20, 1429 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Sri Lanka deploys 12,000 additional police for S. Asian meet COLOMBO, July 24 (AFP): Sri Lanka is deploying 12,000 more police to guard South Asian leaders, who will also have their own heavy security, for a regional summit next week, officials said Thursday. Police Deputy Inspector General Nimal Mediwaka said the 12,000 men will reinforce soldiers, who will also deploy in strength ahead of the two-day South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit starting August 2. “The heads of state will have their own security personnel to provide close protection,” said Mediwaka, who is responsible for security in the already tightly-guarded capital of 650,000 people. (Posted @ 23:44 PST)
Afghan President Karzai protecting drug lords says ex US official WASHINGTON, July 24 (Reuters): The U.S. government's former point man in the fight against the heroin trade in Afghanistan has accused Afghan President Hamid Karzai of obstructing counter-narcotics efforts and protecting drug lords. Thomas Schweich, who resigned last month from the State Department's narcotics bureau, said in an article to appear on Sunday in the New York Times magazine that the Afghan government was deeply involved in shielding the opium trade. “While it is true Karzai's Taliban enemies finance themselves from the drug trade, so do many of his supporters,” Schweich wrote in article posted on the newspaper's Web site. “Narco-corruption went to the top of the Afghan government,” he wrote, adding that drug traffickers were buying off hundreds of police chiefs, judges and other officials. (Posted @ 23:18 PST)
France unveils plans to scale down military PARIS, July 24 (AFP): France on Thursday said it would cut 20 regiments and close military bases from next year as part of plans to modernise the defence sector and help it face the threat of terrorism. Prime Minister Francois Fillon, providing details of the shakeup announced last month by President Nicolas Sarkozy, said that the army would lose 20 regiments and battalions and that 10 air bases and one naval base would shut. By the end of the reform, the military will have 54,000 fewer personnel, and will count 131,000 soldiers, 50,000 air personnel and 44,000 people in the navy, he said. (Posted @ 23:02 PST)
Nine new polio cases in south Afghanistan KABUL, July 24 (PPI): Nine new cases have been reported in three southern provinces over the past month. Six polio cases were reported in Maiwand, Shahwali Kot and Gorak districts of Kandahar Province, two in Nadali District in neighbouring Helmand Province, and one in Urozgan Province since late June, the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) said. This brings the total number of confirmed polio cases in the country in 2008 to 14. Five cases had been confirmed earlier in the year. (Posted @ 22:54 PST)
Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan launch joint rail link KARS, Turkey, July 24 (Reuters): The leaders of Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan launched a railway project between the three countries on Thursday, building on links forged by gas and oil pipelines. At a railway station in the eastern Turkish border town of Kars the presidents of the three countries held a ground breaking ceremony for the $290 million Turkish section of the railway. The three are linked by the BP-led Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline and the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas line but trade links between Turkey and the Caucasus region are limited. Turkish President Abdullah Gul, Georgia's Mikheil Saakashvili and Azerbaijan's Ilham Aliyev placed three sections of railway track on a large map of the region in a symbolic launch of the project. “With this project the historic Silk Road is being reinvigorated,” Gul said in a speech. (Posted @ 22:38 PST)
Libya halts oil shipments to Switzerland TRIPOLI, July 24 (Reuters): OPEC member Libya is halting oil shipments to Switzerland in protest at the arrest of a son of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. All ships carrying Swiss-made goods are barred from unloading their cargoes at Libyan ports, they added in a statement issued shortly after they staged a protest outside the Swiss embassy in Tripoli. The ban on oil shipments includes both crude oil and refined petroleum products. The protesters also threatened unspecified further action against Swiss authorities if they did not apologise “in the next coming hours” for the arrest in Geneva on July 15 of Hannibal Gaddafi. In Zurich, the Swiss Oil Association, described Libya as an important supplier, providing about 50,000 barrels of Switzerland's 250,000 barrels per day (bpd) consumption. (Posted @ 22:26 PST)
34 Taliban, seven cops killed in Afghanistan KABUL, July 24 (AFP): Afghan troops killed at least 34 Taliban rebels in a firefight after the militants ambushed an army convoy in the south on Thursday, a defence ministry spokesman said. The clash erupted after “enemy elements” attacked Afghan forces in Zabul province on the main highway between the capital Kabul and the southern city of Kandahar, a spokesman told AFP. “At least 34 enemy dead bodies are at the battlefield, but we believe there are many more killed,” he said. Seven policemen were killed in new attacks, while a joint NATO-Afghan operation to retake a district captured by Taliban left 15 militants dead, authorities said. A remote-controlled bomb destroyed a police vehicle in eastern Paktia province early Thursday, killing four policemen and wounding two others, said a deputy provincial police chief. Taliban fighters ambushed a police vehicle on patrol in southwestern Farah province overnight, another police official said. “Three police were killed and another three were wounded,” said a police spokesman for western Afghanistan. (Posted @ 22:06 PST)
40 injured in Thai political clashes BANGKOK, July 24 (AFP): About 40 political protesters were injured in violent clashes in Thailand's northeastern province of Udon Thani Thursday, police said. At least three protesters were taken to hospital with serious injuries after anti- and pro-government groups began fighting, they said. “We are still gathering information and cannot give any further details,” a police officer told AFP. A leader of an anti-government group allied with the so-called People's Alliance for Democracy, told local television his group was attacked by members of the pro-government Kon Rak Udorn group as they prepared for a rally. (Posted @ 21:34 PST)
Cricket: Champions Trophy to stay in Pakistan, says PCB chief LAHORE, July 24 (AFP): Pakistan's cricket chief Dr Nasim Ashraf Thursday said Pakistan would host the Champions Trophy as planned but that the International Cricket Council would appoint a commission to ensure security. The announcement came after the ICC held a teleconference to discuss the possibility of moving September's biennial tournament because of security fears raised by Australia, England and New Zealand. “The Champions Trophy will stay in Pakistan and we thank all member countries for their kind support,” Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Naseem Ashraf told a news conference. (First Posted @ 19:26 PST Updated @ 20:48 PST)
US confirms Pakistan F-16 fleet upgrade WASHINGTON, July 24 (AFP/AP): The United States confirmed Thursday that it planned to shift 230 million dollars in aid to Pakistan from counter-terrorism programs to upgrading the country's F-16 fighter jets. Asked about an article in The New York Times detailing the shift, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino told reporters “that story is accurate” but said the airplanes would be used for counter-terrorism operations. The planes traditionally have not been used in anti-terrorism operations and Congress must approve the switch, which was requested days before Pakistan's new prime minister, Yousuf Raza Gilani, is due to meet President George W. Bush at the White House. The request to Congress late last week would allow Pakistan to purchase equipment to upgrade existing planes so that they have similar capabilities to equipment the Bush administration is already selling to Pakistan. The $226 million would come from an allotment already approved for other Pakistan anti-terror operations. The previous request would have upgraded P3-C aircraft, which often are used in surveillance operations, and modernize AH-IF Cobra helicopters. The helicopter work still would be done using different funding, a State Department official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because discussions with Congress are still preliminary. Switching the money to fix up F-16s would represent a change in the purpose for more than two-thirds of the $300 million that Pakistan will receive this year in U.S. military underwriting for Pakistan's equipment and training. Congress has required that the training and equipment money be spent for law enforcement or to fight terrorism. U.S. assistance and other payments to Pakistan have totaled $9.6 billion in the six budget years since 9/11, according to the State Department. (First Posted @ 10:50 PST Updated @ 20:04 PST)
Indian inflation eases slightly back to 11.89 percent NEW DELHI, July 24 (AFP): India's annual inflation rate has eased to 11.89 percent, defying expectations it would cross the 12 percent mark, according to the latest government data released Thursday. Analysts had expected the rate would jump to just over 12 percent. (Posted @ 20:00 PST)
Cricket: Pakistan to host Champions Trophy - PCB chief LAHORE, July 24 (AFP): Pakistan's cricket chief Dr Nasim Ashraf said Thursday that Pakistan would host the Champions Trophy as planned but that the International Cricket Council would appoint a commission to ensure security. (Posted @ 19:26 PST)
Renault to cut 5,000 jobs as it prepares for downturn PARIS, July 24 (AFP): French giant automaker Renault said on Thursday it will cut about 5,000 jobs in Europe among measures to reduce costs by 10 percent as it prepares for a sharp and possibly rocky downturn. Renault chairman Carlos Ghosn announced the loss of 5,000 jobs in Europe. (Posted @ 19:04 PST)
Cricket: Sri Lanka 422-4 in first India Test COLOMBO, July 24 (AFP): Sri Lanka were 422-4 in their first innings at stumps on the second day of the opening cricket Test against India at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground here on Thursday. (Posted @ 18:38 PST)
Russia opposes deadline for Iran in nuclear talks MOSCOW, July 24 (AFP) Moscow opposes setting a deadline for Iran to respond to an offer made by six mediator countries in strained nuclear talks, Russia's foreign minister was quoted as saying Thursday. “There should be no artificial limits, either in the sense of some kind of deadline, like 'tomorrow or never', or in the endless dragging out of the process,” Lavrov told Russian journalists in Singapore, Interfax news agency reported. On Monday, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Tehran had two weeks to respond seriously to a proposal made by the six powers or else face “punitive measures”. “I think such political statements, which some negotiating parties may hope will stimulate someone to do something, should really be weighed against reality,” Lavrov was quoted as saying on the sidelines of a meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Under the proposal, Tehran would stop adding uranium-enriching centrifuges and in return face no further sanctions. (Posted @ 17:44 PST)
Israeli troops arrests five in West Bank HEBRON, West Bank, July 24 (AFP) Israeli troops arrested five Palestinians and wounded three others in an operation in southern West Bank’s village of Beit Ummar on Thursday morning, Palestinian police and medics said. (Posted @ 17:28 PST)
Zimbabwe crisis talks begin in South Africa PRETORIA, July 24 (AFP): Talks began in earnest Thursday on resolving Zimbabwe's political crisis after President Robert Mugabe gave his senior lieutenants the final go-ahead to negotiate power-sharing with the opposition. A spokesman for South African President Thabo Mbeki, the chief mediator between the two sides, confirmed the ruling ZANU-PF and opposition Movement for Democratic Change's top negotiators were now in place at a secret venue in Pretoria, two days after the initial scheduled start of their talks. “Full-on talks are underway,” Mukoni Ratshitanga told AFP, expressing confidence that they would lead to a swift conclusion. “We will finish in two weeks or just a bit after that,” he added. Zimbabwe's Herald newspaper said the politburo had discussed the memorandum of understanding signed by Mugabe and MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai Monday which laid out the agenda for their talks. (Posted @ 17:00 PST)
Powerful aftershocks hit China quake area, one dead BEIJING, July 24 (Reuters): At least three powerful aftershocks hit southwest China's quake area on Thursday, killing one elderly person and injuring more than a dozen, the Xinhua news agency said. More than 69,000 people have been confirmed dead and some 18,000 are still listed as missing over two months after a 7.9-magnitude earthquake hit the mountainous province of Sichuan on May 12. A 5.6-magnitude aftershock struck Qingchuan county in northeastern Sichuan in the early hours of Thursday, killing a 60-year-old, Xinhua said. At least four people were injured in the adjacent Ningqiang county in Shaanxi province, Xinhua said. It was the first of two pre-dawn aftershocks that caused landslides and cut off some roads, it said. “Both were felt strongly and lasted fairly long,” said Xinhua. “Mountains and houses shook vehemently.” Another aftershock, measured 6.0 on the Richter scale, hit the same area at 3:09 p.m. local time and was felt in places as far as the southwestern metropolis of Chongqing, Xinhua said. (First Posted @ 15:00 PST, Updated @ 16:25 PST)
Helicopter rescues two Italian mountaineers from Nanga Parbat ISLAMABAD, July 24 (AP) An army helicopter saved two Italian climbers from the Nanga Parbat Mountain, a Pakistani official said. Walter Nones and Simon Kehrer had been struggling to descend from Nanga Parbat since July 16, when fellow climber Karl Unterkircher fell to his death. Tourism official Shaukat Zaman said the helicopter rescued the two climbers Thursday and they were being transported to the region's main town of Gilgit. The military-run helicopter rescue service, Askari Aviation, confirmed the operation on its website. (Posted @ 15:05 PST)
Two quakes hits southwest China BEIJING, July 24 (AFP) Two earthquakes hit southwest China on Thursday, the US Geological Survey said, near the area devastated by a massive tremor in May that left nearly 70,000 dead. One quake with a magnitude of 5.5 struck the border region of Sichuan and Gansu provinces at 3:09 p.m., the USGS said, 174 kilometres northeast of Mianyang, which was severely hit by the 8.0-magnitude quake in May. It hit at a depth of 10 kilometres. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties. The earlier quake, with a magnitude of 5.8, was just one kilometre away and also at a depth of 10 kilometres, the USGS said. There were similarly no reports of casualties from that quake. (Posted @ 15:00 PST)
Nine dead in fresh occupied Kashmir violence SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, July 24 (AFP) At least nine people, including women and children, were killed in fresh outbreaks of violence in occupied Kashmir on Thursday, officials said. A grenade attack by suspected militants in Srinagar left five dead - among them a woman and a child - and nine other wounded, police said. In a separate attack, militants executed a former rebel and three of his family members, including his wife and daughter, in an apparent revenge killing, officials said. A police spokesman said the murdered man, Ghulam Hussain, was an ex-member of one of the region's militant groups. He was murdered in Doda district, about 170 kilometres south of Srinagar. Also among the dead was Hussain's four-year-old nephew, police said. (First Posted @ 14:00 PST, Updated @ 14:30 PST)
Child, woman killed, 12 hurt in occupied Kashmir explosion SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, July 24 (Reuters): A child and a woman were killed and more than a dozen civilians wounded Thursday when suspected militants lobbed a grenade at a crowded bus terminal in Srinagar, police said. The attack took place in the city’s Batamaloo bus terminal. (Posted @ 14:00 PST)
29 killed in fresh Sri Lanka fighting COLOMBO, July 24 (AFP): At least 25 Tamil Tiger rebels and four soldiers were killed in fighting across Sri Lanka's northern region, the defence ministry said Thursday. The ministry said the clashes between troops and members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) happened Wednesday. Meanwhile, Sri Lankan warplanes Thursday carried out air strikes against a suspected rebel training centre in the guerrilla-controlled Mullaittivu area, airforce spokesman Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara said. Separatist Tamil Tigers had no comment on casualties. (Posted @ 13:40 PST)
Gunmen kill three US-allied fighters in northern Baghdad BAGHDAD, July 24 (AP): Three guards working for a US-allied group were killed and another wounded in drive-by shootings in northern Baghdad, a group member said. The official said gunmen in a speeding car opened fire on two different awakening council checkpoints Thursday in the Azamiyah neighbourhood. (Posted @ 13:25 PST)
Operation to retake Afghan district kills 15 Taliban GHAZNI, Afghanistan, July 24 (AFP): Afghan and NATO forces killed at least 15 Taliban militants in an operation to retake control of a district the rebels captured three days ago, authorities said Thursday. Afghan troops backed by NATO ground and air support launched an offensive on Wednesday in Ghazni province’s Ajristan district, the alliance and an Afghan official said. “At least 15 Taliban have been killed and several others are wounded since yesterday (Wednesday),” provincial government spokesman Ismail Jahangir said. Dozens of Taliban militants had captured the district on Monday. “Joint operations began inside the village of Ajiristan. Several insurgents have been killed and wounded,” the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force said. The operation continued for a second day Thursday, with the troops able to recapture the district headquarters compound but still fighting for wider control, Jahangir said. (Posted @ 13:15 PST)
North Korea signs non-aggression pact SINGAPORE, July 24 (AFP): North Korea on Thursday signed a Southeast Asian non-aggression pact, becoming the 15th nation outside the region to adopt its principles. North Korea's Foreign Minister Pak Ui-Chun put his signature on the document alongside those of his 10 counterparts from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). (Posted @ 12:55 PST)
Turkish warplanes bomb Kurdish rebel targets in northern Iraq ANKARA, Turkey, July 24 (AP): Turkey's military says warplanes have bombed 13 Kurdish rebel targets in northern Iraq. A statement posted on the military Web site says warplanes attacked rebel “facilities” in the Zab region, near the Turkish border, late Wednesday. There was no immediate information on casualties. (Posted @ 12:40 PST)
Three dead in southern Philippines bus blast: military DIGOS, Philippines, July 24 (AFP): A blast tore through a passenger bus at a bus depot in the city of Digos on the southern island of Mindanao on Thursday, killing three people, a military spokesman said. (Posted @ 11:40 PST)
Four of family killed in occupied Kashmir revenge attack SRINAGAR, July 24 (AFP): Suspected militants in occupied Kashmir on Thursday shot dead a former rebel and three of his family members, including his wife and daughter, police said. A police spokesman said Ghulam Hussain was a former member of the disputed region's main militant group, the Hizbul Mujahedin, who surrendered in 2004 – earning himself a place on a militants hit-list. He was murdered in Doda district, about 170 kilometres south of Srinagar. Also among the dead was Hussain's four-year-old nephew, police said. (Posted @ 11:35 PST)
US wants to shift two-thirds of Pakistani military aid to upgrade F-16s WASHINGTON, July 24 (AP): The State Department wants to use about two-thirds of its proposed military equipment aid for Pakistan's anti-terrorism programs to help the country upgrade its aging fleet of U.S.-made F-16 fighter planes. The planes traditionally have not been used in anti-terrorism operations and Congress must approve the switch, which was requested days before Pakistan's new prime minister, Yousuf Raza Gilani, is due to meet President George W. Bush at the White House. The request to Congress late last week would allow Pakistan to purchase equipment to upgrade existing planes so that they have similar capabilities to equipment the Bush administration is already selling to Pakistan. The $226 million would come from an allotment already approved for other Pakistan anti-terror operations. The previous request would have upgraded P3-C aircraft, which often are used in surveillance operations, and modernize AH-IF Cobra helicopters. The helicopter work still would be done using different funding, a State Department official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because discussions with Congress are still preliminary. Switching the money to fix up F-16s would represent a change in the purpose for more than two-thirds of the $300 million that Pakistan will receive this year in U.S. military underwriting for Pakistan's equipment and training. Congress has required that the training and equipment money be spent for law enforcement or to fight terrorism. U.S. assistance and other payments to Pakistan have totaled $9.6 billion in the six budget years since 9/11, according to the State Department. (Posted @ 10:50 PST)
Obama leads McCain by 6 points: poll WASHINGTON, July 24 (Reuters): Democrat Barack Obama has a 6-point lead over Republican John McCain in the U.S. presidential race as a growing percentage of Americans believe the country is headed in the wrong direction, according to an NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll released on Wednesday. (Posted @ 10:25 PST)
99 injured in Japan earthquake HACHINOHE, Japan, July 24 (Reuters): The 6.8 magnitude earthquake that jolted northern Japan early on Thursday injured at least 99 people, 17 seriously, and trapped hundreds in halted trains, affecting production at some high-tech factories. “There are no reports of deaths or people buried alive,” an official spokesman said. (Posted @ 10:20 PST)
Tennis-Federer suffers Toronto upset, Nadal wins TORONTO, July 24 (Reuters) - The end of Roger Federer's long reign as world number one moved closer when he suffered a shock second-round defeat by Frenchman Gilles Simon at the Toronto Masters on Wednesday. Federer was beaten 2-6 7-5 6-4 and his ranking is now under serious threat from Nadal who beat American qualifier Jesse Levine 6-4 6-2. (Posted @ 10:15 PST)
Air strikes will not do the trick: Obama on Iran WASHINGTON, July 23 (AFP): White House contender Barack Obama said Wednesday all options, diplomatic and military, should be considered to stop Iran from getting nuclear weapons, but that air strikes alone would not solve the crisis. “Iran is a big country. They have dispersed their nuclear capabilities in a way that you're not going to see smooth, surgical strikes solving the problem entirely the way that Israel was able to deal with Iraq's nuclear threat,” he told ABC News. Obama called for “tough sanctions” coupled with “tough diplomacy that makes the calculus for the Iranians different.” (Posted @ 10:05 PST)
Pakistan PM to face tough terror questions in US ISLAMABAD, July 24 (AFP) - Pakistani premier Yousuf Raza Gilani will face searching questions about his commitment to fighting Taliban and Al-Qaeda militants along the Afghan border when he flies to Washington on Saturday and meets President George W. Bush two days later. Foreign ministry spokesman Mohammad Sadiq said Gilani's trip to Washington would cover the “war on terror”, bilateral relations and the economy. “It is a very important visit, it is the first visit by a democratically elected prime minister to see President Bush,” Sadiq told AFP. “It is a key relationship for Pakistan and this visit has lot of significance for Pakistan. America is a key country for Pakistan,” he stated. (Posted @ 10:00 PST)
Afghanistan troop increase up to next president: Pentagon WASHINGTON, July 23 (AFP): The Pentagon is unable to send additional combat brigades to Afghanistan this year because of constraints imposed by the war in Iraq, leaving the decision on reinforcements to the next president, a spokesman said Wednesday. Geoff Morrell, the Pentagon press secretary, said Iraq remains the top priority for the Bush administration, which places limits on the forces available for duty in Afghanistan over the short term. “How many, whether it is the three additional brigades that the commanders want I think is a question for the next administration,” Morrell said. (Posted @ 09:50 PST)
Ball in North Korean court on nuclear progress: Rice SINGAPORE, July 24 (AFP) - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Thursday the ball is now in North Korea's court after six-party talks here with her North Korean counterpart on verifying Pyongyang's nuclear disarmament “I don't think the North Koreans left with any illusions about the fact that the ball is in their court, and that everybody believes that they have got to respond and respond positively on verification,” Rice told reporters. (Posted @ 09:50 PST)
Strong quake strikes far-east Russia TOKYO, July 24 (AFP): A strong earthquake with a 6.4 magnitude rattled Russia's far east on Thursday, the US Geological Survey said. The quake, which was a relatively shallow 35 kilometres (22 miles) deep, struck at 0143 GMT off the coast of the Kamchatka peninsula, the agency said. (Posted @ 09:45 PST)
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